Starting in the 2024 season, Major League Baseball will have new jerseys. These new jerseys are designed by Nike, but manufactured by Fanatics. While the idea of new jerseys hasn’t been a problem, it’s the thin pant material that is causing outrage amongst fans. After Nike signed a 10-year deal with the MLB before the 2020 season, their goal was to enhance player performance and comfort during the summer months of the season.
Now, the MLB dug themselves into a bigger hole with recent comments about the material for the pants, releasing the following statement: “The uniform pants have the same material and thickness as the uniform pants used last season. There were changes to the fabric of the jersey, not the pants.” For certain teams, it is visibly noticeable when players’ underwear/jersey tuck is exposed in photo shoots for the MLB. The font on the back of the jerseys appears small and players have conflicting opinions about the new uniforms.
Until the 2029 season, Nike is in charge of the handling, marketing and prototyping of the jerseys. Fanatics, on the other hand, will be responsible for manufacturing, sewing and decorating the jerseys.
In the development stages, Nike scanned bodies of more than 300 MLB players to get a better sense of body shape and uniform requirements.” The new jerseys have sleeve piping that sit lower on the shirts and remarkably, there are no longer visible patch textures. Instead, it’s just a flat logo without any embroidery. Recently, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander wore the new uniform; the curvature of his last name looks a little bit out of place. It simply sits too low on his back and the size of the letters are disproportionate to the number.
The new uniforms have been in development since 2018. Under Armour previously had a deal with Fanatics in 2016 to take Majestic Athletics, but the agreement fell through. In 2017, Fanatics bought Majestic Athletics and made a three-way partnership with Nike. These new uniforms were debuted in last season’s All-Star game, leaving players satisfied with the light feel of the material but disliking the look.
“It’s disappointing that we’ve landed in a place where the uniforms are the topic of discussion,” said MLBPA executive director Tony Clark. Clark has gone to multiple locations to hear out teams at training camps for their concerns with the new uniforms.
The controversy is mostly centered around the pants. Most teams have white pants as part of their uniform. When a player slides to second, third or home plate, can those pants potentially handle that pressure? The question remains over the thickness of the pants, not so much the material. In a photoshoot, you could see Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani’s compression shorts with the logo.
The uniforms haven’t been the most exciting news around the league. “We all liked what we had. We understand business, but I think everyone wanted to keep it the same way, for the most part, with some tweaks here or there,” said Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. Players will have to acclimate to these new uniforms, unless a survey for an alternative jersey selection were to circulate throughout the league.
Fans appreciate that the league wants to bring new excitement to the sport. On the other hand, fans often enjoy the classic look of their team’s jerseys. Heat pressing logos on a uniform is a cheap way for the MLB to cut costs. The league needs to find the right balance between respecting America’s pastime and its newest innovations.